Finite Element Analysis of the Effect of Flyer Plate Impacts on Rod Projectiles and Shaped Charges

Numerical simulations were undertaken using LS-DYNA to investigate flyer plates as possible hard kill countermeasures against kinetic energy threats (tungsten rods at high velocity) and chemical energy threats such as shaped charge warheads. The results indicate that flyer plates can disrupt small 25-mm APFSDS-like projectiles effectively. Long 120-mm rods are much harder to disrupt and the various flyer plate combinations surveyed did not work. For shaped charge jets, distortion of the liner by flyer plate impact of the warhead and subsequent lack of jet formation is possible but there remains a non-negligible mass that impacts the armour of a light armoured vehicle.